Developing tray



Dec. 30,1941; a MOORE 2,268,457

DEVELOPING TRAY Filed Nov. 23, 1940 INQZENTOR 5 Wolrer- B. Moore. BWYMMAQ ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,268,457 DEVELOPING TRAY Walter B. Moore, Coshocton, Ohio Application November 23, 1940, Serial No. 366,898

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a has to do, more particularly; with a tray which be developed.

The most commonly used developing tray at Film or paper processed in a flat bottom tray will become ruined if it is not quickly turned, for otherwise uneven development occurs.

proper development.

Another type of tray suggested in the prior art, is one embodying a flat bottom with widely was made of glass having a flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a table or other Another object of my invention is to provide a tray of the type indicated whichcan be used eilectively with film or paper" substantially regardless of its size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a developing tray which has a bottom of such a nature that lifting of the film or paper may easily and quickly accomplished with the fingers or with tongs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a developing tray which has a bottom of such a Another object of my invention is to provide a developing tray which bottle or suitable container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tray made of metal, plastic, rubber or any other suitable material and of such a nature that it may be pressed out in one piece, thereby making it economical to manufacture.

This application is a continuation in part of tom surface as illustrated vThey are preferably of ,form so that they will not 'or film in the process obstruction to the fingers or wooden tongs.

' obstructions to the though the protuberances or paper in spaced my co-pending application Serial No. 317,623 filed February 7, 1940.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of developing tray made according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the developing tray showing how it may be rocked to agitate the developing liquid.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating how the developing tray may be picked up by either the right or left hand tov pour the liquid out of the tray through one or the other of the pouring lips.

With reference to the drawing, I have illustrated a tray l which is of substantially rec tangular form. This tray is preferably shallow and is preferably formed of a single piece of metal, preferably of enameled steel so that the developing liquid will not corrode or otherwise act on the steel. However, it can be made of other suitable material.

The tray is provided-with a substantially fiat but slightly convex bottom 2, as shown in Fig-. ures 2 and 3 of the drawing. However, the bottom is provided with a plurality of protuberances 3 which project upwardly from the upper surface thereof and are disposed substantially throughout'the area of the bottom. These pro-. tuberances 3 are preferably arranged in lateral and longitudinal rows and are preferably stamped into the bottom of the tray by a single pressing operation, the tray being turned bottom side up during this pressing operation. Each of the pro-- tuberances is very small, being of convex form when viewed from the inside of the trayand of concave form when viewed from the outside botbest in Figures 2 and 3.

injure sensitized paper of developing or be an Since the projections on the bottom are very small spaced protuberances, they will not form fingers or tongs like elongated ribs. Furthermore, there will be less danger of injury to the film or paper since there will be .much less area of contact between the proor paper. Also, al- 3 will not form obstructions to the tongs or fingers, they are sum- ,ciently close together to prevent small film or paper from lying fiat on the bottom. Protuberances 3 will support the film F (Figs. 2 and 3) relationship to the bottom so that it may be readily lifted.

At diagonally opposed upper corners I provide pouring lips 4 which are formed simultaneously with the formation of the tray. These pouring lips are of great convenience, when located as shown in the drawing, with the one to the left of the front corner and the one to the right at the rear corner. This makes it possible to use either the right hand or the left hand to pour the liquid from the tray, without the necessity tuberances 3 and the film of turning the tray around as is the case when only one pouring lip is provided, or when a plurality of lips which are not properly arranged substantially spherical:

are provided. Figure 5 brings out this feature clearly.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 it will be noted that the outside bottom of the tray is of convex form so as to facilitate agitation of the developing fiuid contained therein. As shown in Figure 4, the developing tray may be rocked to agitate the fluid by merely using a slight downward force on the side or end of the tray without picking up the tray with the consequent danger of spilling the liquid. This tray is so constructed that the center of the outer surface is slightly lower than any other point thereof and this surface gradually curves upwardly in all directions from the center corners and sides to provide for easy rocking of the tray. Since it is necessary when developing or processing films, plates and printing paper, to keep the developer in constant agitation, it can be seen that my tray provides a safe and easy way to accomplish this.

It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a developing tray having many advantages. It can be used more effectively than flat bottomed trays. The film or papers will not be held to the bottom by capillary attraction. The film will be supported upon protuberances on the bottom of the tray so that when the tray is rocked back and forth, the

- so that pouring can developing solution will fiow both above and beneath the film or paper. Consequently, the film will be developed evenly and uniformly. The protuberances will not interfere with the free flow of the developing solution past the film. Also they will not form obstructions to the fingers or tongs and, therefore, the film or paper may be readily lifted with the fingers or tongs. Furthermore, the film o papcr will be supported by theprotuberances substantially regardless of its size and there will be substantially no danger of the film passing between the protuberances and resting on the bottom of the tray.

Another advantage of my invention is that the two lips which are formed at diagonally spaced corners are a great convenience in the dark room since it is not necessary to turn the tray around so as to pour the developing liquid or other solutions into bottles or jugs for preservation. Either the right or left hand may be used to perform this pouring operation.

Another advantage of my invention is the contour of the outside surface of the bottom which permits easy rocking movement to agitate the fluid contained in the tray. This movement may be imparted by merely touching the side or end of the tray with a finger instead of lifting it as in the case in prior art trays.

Various other advantages will be apparent from the drawing and the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

A developing tray comprising a comparatively shallow body portion and an outwardly curved bottom which is curved in all directions to facilitate rocking in all directions, said bottom having a plurality of upwardly projecting small spaced protuberances pressed into the lower surface thereof, said body portion having two pouring lips formed thereon at diagonally opposed upper corners, the pouring lip at the front being at the left and the one at the rear being at the righi be carried out by either thl right or the left hand. without turning the tray WALTER B. MOORE.

towards the four 

